Ratchet handle



June 21, 1950 R. w. V-OSPER 2,512,755

RATCHET HANDLE Filed June 14, 19.46

Fig.1

4-- 26 24 25 ME] I 3mm 3 m RICE-21d P V05}??? Patented June 27, 1950 oFFI-cE- RATCHETHANDLE Richard W. Vesper, Essex, Conn.,. Application June 14, 1946,- seriaiNo. evasz'vf 3 Claims. (Cl. 19.2-43.2)

This application is a continuation-inpart of my copending application Serial Number 5783479, filed February 17, 1945.

This invention relates generally tooperating handles for hand tools and more particularly to ratchet handles. I

A primary object of the invention is to provide animproved handle for hand tools having improved operating characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detachable ratchet handle for tool heads whereby the hand operation of such heads is facilitated.

A further object of the invention is to providea'de'tachable ratchet handle for use with tool heads wherebyby the use of heads havin uniform hub'sor the employment of adapters, heads of a wide range of types and sizes are made interchangeable in an improved hand operated ratchet tool.

additional object of the invention is to provide a detachable ratchet handle of inexpensive and rugged construction which is particularly suited for hand operated threading tools.

Other objects and features oi. the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description and be particularly pointed out in the ep'-- pended claims. v

In the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is anelevational view of the ratchet handle.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the handle ap plied to a die head.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the hub of a tool head.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken brace the correspondingly shaped hub or neck i of a tool head 4 within the sleeve opening 5.

Extending downwardly from the sleeve, substantially at right angles to its axis, is a stem,-

shaft or lever arm 6'. The stem is preferablyhollow throughout its-entire length, with an axial bore or hollow interior 1 opening'at its upperend into the interior of the sleeve 2. Intermedi ate its ends-the bore-is interrupted by an inwardly projecting circular flange or rib 8, which divides'the bore into upper and lower preferably cylindrical connected chambers, designated as 9 and I0, respectively. The lower chamber or downwardlyopening pocket l0 desirably of greater diameter than the'upper chamber;

Av rugged handle of adequate strength may be providedby shaping the stem' in the manner shown in the drawings. As there illustrated, the exterior of the stem is substantially elliptical in cross section with its-major dimension cross-' wise of the axis of the sleeve 2. The major dimension is approximately equal to the outside of the sleeve at the" stems upper extremity and gradually decreases toward'the lower'end of the and stem not only provide a housing of adequate strength but particularly 'adapt the housing to be formed by casting, thus enabling the housing I to'be cast in one piece with consequent saving in cost.

A pawlor ratchet of the plunger type l2 seats or fits within the'upper'chamber 9 in the stem. The-upper endoi the pawl is formed as a conventional one-way beveled tooth or prong I3 which normally extends into the sleeve opening 5. The lower end of the pawl rests'or rides on a coil spring or other" resilient means [4, the latter being housed or supported in a: removable spring container or housing [5. Thecontainer is preferablya cylinder'closed at its lower'end and havihgits upper end flanged outwardly to form a'lipifi' which is carried on and engages the upper face orshoulder ll of the'rib 8 on the inner wall of th rstem. The lower portion or shank l8 ofthe'pa'wl is'of reduced section to-enable it to be s'lidably accommodated within the spring container l5.

In'line with the upper edge of the spring con tainer'and fora substantialdistance thereabove the stem is slotted alo'ngits minor dimension to provide a slot, opening or passage "IQeX tending through the-opposite walls of the stern. Within the slotrides a preferably cylindrical control knob 01' collar!!! having'a knurled outersurface.

the exposed portions of which are flush with the exterior of the stem. The knob encircles or collars the pawl l2 above its shank and is attached thereto by a pin or other suitable means 2!. Turning or twisting of the knob thus turns the pawl and controls the engaging or driving direction of the pawl tooth I 3. The knob not only serves as a turning or direction control for the pawl but, by abutting against the upper and lower walls respectively of the slot l9, limits the movement of the pawl longitudinally or axially of the stem. The knob is urged upwardly by the,

spring 14, and normally abuts the upper end of the slot, the tooth [3 then extending within the sleeve 5. The height of the slot relative to the knob is such that when the knob is pressed against the spring into engagement with thezlower walls 1 of the slot, the tooth is withdrawn from the sleeve opening into the upper chamber 9 in the stem.

through the. knob sufiiciently' to relea'se'the' de-- tents from-the locking'notches 22;:the prong-l3 is withdrawn into the stem' ii," clearing the sleeve opening; Merely by partial rotation of the knob it is' then possible to maintain the pawl'in withdrawn position through abutment ofthe detents against the upper wall of the slot I 9; thus enabling.--a*tool= head tobe inserted-"within or removed from the tool handle withoutinterference from the pawl.

In Figure 2, the improvedhandleis-shown appliedto a die head 24',- thehub-or throat 25 of which is slidably seated orreceived in the opening 5: To enable'thehea'd to beturned' by the handle; its'hub isprovided with a series of circumferentially arranged grooves or slots 26 which are adapted to receive and be engaged by the pawl tooth l3; As-shown, the slots are arcuatewhile the head of the tooth is substantially straight.-

other tool heads having cylindrical hubs, the

ratchet handle of the present invention may'also be employed with tool heads'having hubs of various shapes position of an adapter 27, such as illustrated in Figure 5, between the hub of the tool'head' and the-sleeve 2 of the handle; All adapters for this purpose will possessin common an outer cylindrical surface having a seriesof circumferential grooves, to provide the necessary sliding fit within the sleeveand gripping surfaces for action of the pawl. The size and shape'of the interior of theadapter will be'determin'ed' by the-configura-* This is accomplished by'the inter- 4 tion of the hub of the tool head to which the handle is to be applied. In the illustrated embodiment the slot 28 has been given the hexagonal section of the hub of the standard form of wrench head.

After the components of the ratchet handle have been made and machined to the tolerances required to obtain the necessary sliding or rotating fits, they are assembled by inserting those parts housed in the upper. and lower chambers I and "l 0 through the upper end of the upper chamber and the knob 26 through the slot l9. In

" order, the spring container l5 and the spring l4 are first inserted and the knob is next slipped into the slot I 9. The pawl I2 is then slid into the upper chamber and into the inner opening of the knob, the latter then being attached to the pawl by the pin 2!. Since the length of the pawl is normally greater than the diameter of the sleeve opening 5, a circular slot 29 is provided in the wall of thezsleeve opposite-'thezopening ofv the upper chamber through which ,the pawl and, if desired; the container i5 and spring can be inserted in the housing. I

In use, "the stem ,6 twill occasionally provide sumcient leverage for the application of-zforce through the sleeve2 (to a'tool head: However,

additional leverage wilLusually be :requiredunder normal operatingconditions; For this purpose the lengthof the l'ever armis increased by insertingapipe, bar or;v other extension 30 in' the open ing in the-handle provided. by the lower chamber.

it]. Since the extensionis comparatively smooth and wouldbe slippery; and difficult to handle under operating' conditions, there is preferably attached to-or mountedon its outer or lowerend a grip-3 l-i having .-;a roughened-outer or gripping surface 32:

It will be apparent from the foregoing-detailed description of the v-invention that there has been provided a novel form'of ratchet handle possess-- ing --numerous-advantages. It should'be understood that; the form-of 'the invention disclosed merely an illustrative embodiment and that the invention includes allqmodifications that depart neitherfrom-zits spirit nor the scope ofthe-eap pended claims.- i e Having described my invention I claim: A: ratchet handlev comprising a tool-seating sleeve, an elongated stem-attached and disposed substantially normal to theraxis of said sleeve, said stem having an axial bore extendin into :the opening insaid sleeve, .a reversible :pawl seated in and .movable'a'xially of said bore, said bore being interrupted intermediate the ends thereof by-av slotextendingtransversely through said stem, a

collar riding in said slot and mounted on said.

ceiving. said key means-and releasably locking said pawl in driving position-in-either drivingdirection, and said key -means,cooperatinguwithsaid stem for retaining saidpawl during reversal thereof in retracted position relative to said sleeve.

2. A ratchet'handle:comprising atom-seating sleeve, an elongated stem attached and-disposed substantially normal to the axis of. said sleeve,

said stem having an axial bore extending'into the opening'insaid sleeve,-a reversible pawl seated in: and movable: axiallylof' said bore, said bore :beingv interrupted intermediate ends thereof by a slot extending transversely through said stem, a collar riding in said slot and mounted on said pawl intermediate ends thereof for imparting axial and rotative movement thereto, said collar being of greater dimension transversely of said stem than said bore, and key means carried by said pawl and engageable with said stem for releasably looking said pawl in driving position in either driving direction, said key means cooperating with said stem for retaining said pawl during reversal thereof in retracted position relative to said sleeve.

3. A ratchet handle comprising a tool-seating sleeve, an elongated stem attached and disposed substantially normal to the axis of said sleeve, said stem having an axial bore extending into the opening in said sleeve, a reversible pawl seated in and movable axially of said bore, said bore being interrupted intermediate ends thereof by a slot extending transversely through said stem, a collar riding in said slot and mounted on said pawl intermediate ends thereof for imparting axial and rotative movement thereto, said pawl above said collar having substantially the same cross-section RICHARD W. VOSPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 304,102 Hermann Aug. 26, 1884 621,265 West Feb. 24, 1903 1,138,277 Carll May 4, 1915 1,195,294 Trubey Aug. 22, 19 6 2,243,361 Stahl May 27, 1941 2,282,148 Mandl May 5, 1942 

